World team events scheduling insane: ATP

ATP boss Chris Kermode says back-to-back world team events before the Australian Open would be crazy

Holding two world team tennis events within a short time is an insane idea, according to ATP president Chris Kermode.

The Association of Tennis Professionals has proposed a revamped World Team Cup, starting in 2020, in partnership with Tennis Australia, to be held before the Australian Open in January.

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has also planned an overhaul of the Davis Cup, leading to the formation of the World Cup of Tennis that might start at the end of November next year.

If both competitions are approved, men's players will end their season at the World Cup of Tennis and, after a very short break, start preparing for the World Team Cup and the Melbourne grand slam.

Kermode believed it would be very taxing.

"It doesn't make any sense to have two team events. Personally, I think that would be insane. Let's just hope that doesn't happen," said Kermode, who was also the ATP's executive chairman.

"Davis Cup is a sports entity that has been around for hundreds of years and we value it," be told BBC Sport.

"Equally, the World Team Cup was an event we had for 35 years. It's been off the shelf for a while, but could we bring that back? I think there's clearly a demand for a huge team event that anyone can buy into."

He said the ATP and ITF had held talks but failed to find a solution so far. The 53-year-old believes that the decision over which tournament went ahead would be based on player support.